Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-24

their mother, looking out at the peaceful
valley below A sudden gust Of wind blew
speck Of something INTO his eye. The speck
proved to be poisonous gnat. Il blinded
him. The eye became presently so swollen
and painful that it was necessary TO shut out
the light Shirley bound a bandage about
the wounded eye.
stop, Shirley said he "don't cover up
both eyes!"
II didn't papa; only bound up the right
eyen
Ho passed his hand across the left eye to
make sure. He opened and closed the lid
several times.
Then he sat in utter silence moment
GGod help mel" he said at length, a am
going blind in my left eyer r...
1t was too true The sight of the eye was
all gone but the faintest glimmering of gray
like twilight He was unable to distinguish
one object from another with that eye. Other
signs Of failing powers followed. His memory
had been clear and powerful Now he lost
recollection Of important matters. Images of
people and events became confused in bis
brain. He forgot sometimes the names of his
children, and called one by the name of an
other. A pain in his head troubled him.
With sinking heart the faithful daughter
watched these signs It was unutterably sad
to sec such symptoms of decay in this man of
princely heart and brain. At last the girl
observed that her father could not speak GER
tain words distinctly any more. His
articulation was thick and difficult, like that
of a drunken man. But this was not the
worst. Others, outside of the stone house,
began to notice the change, too, and to talk
of it. Ere long the everlasting Mis- Simp-
kins tackled black Sam in the village Said
| she:
"It's beginnin' to be whimpered about
among folks hyer in town that Col. Car
stone is losin' of his mind"
"What in thunder you talkin' about?" re-
piled Sam, with an indignant air. He had
heard Col. Carstone say that and thought
it sounded high toned.
That there might be no possibility of mis-
understanding, Mis- Simpkins came out fiat
footed with the question:
"Boss goin' crazy, amt he!'
Sam fiared up nightly. The honor of the
Carstone family hung upon him. He felt
the responsibility of the occasion. He on
swered:
peoples pack O. POI white trash, dats what
dey ar. Folks what's got plenty brains don't
go crazy. 1t don't run in der families. It's
only yer POI trash dat loses der Minis, an dey
lose 'em huntin' arter other peoples business.
I spects to hyar dat all Lnwoods moved
into dc loonattic asylum befo long. YahI
yahl" With twinkle of white teeth, and
bobbing Of gray head, Sam turned his back
on Linwood.
But he looked very grave when next day
Col Carstone said he meant to start that
afternoon to the city. A look of intelligence
passed between Shirley and the old servitor.
"Papa," said Shirley, don't you think Sam
had better go with you2" 1t irritated him.
II think" he answered, "that I am still
capable of taking care of myself"
"Oh, we'll, no otfense, Col Carstone," said
Shirley, lightly. She thought to soothe his
wounded pride. ut will be relief to you to
get away from taking care of the trouble
some pack of us here"
Her fathers brief anger was over. He
turned his eye upon the group that gathered
to see him off, the handsome, merry children,
the beautiful, elder daughter, and the tender,
pretty mother of them all. He glanced from
one to another with look of love and pride.
Then he kissed them, one after another,
which was work of time, there were so many
of them. A new baby had taken the place
of the old one. There were always babies in
the stone house. The father kissed the tiny
newcomer last of all. Then he placed it in
Shirley's arms, not his wifes And he said:
"Takc care of your mother, Shirley. Take
care of them all.n
Those were his last words to them.
He descended the hill with his slightly
| l.;
In many day the colonel had not felt SO
well as he did next morning. A sense of ex-
hilaration and q feeling of youth and lightness
lifted him quite beyond the gloom that had
oppressed him for weeks. He was passion
ately fond of music. In earlier days he him
self had been an amateur singer of no COM
mon ability. A famous prima donna was
singing in opera in Chesterton this very week.
On the evening of that day Norma" was to
be given. 1t was one of his old favorites
Tender memories were joined with it for
him. 1t was performance of "NorEa" he
first met his wife. Through twenty-five
years of happy life that night smiled back on
him.
What lily of girl his Alice was then,
in her white dress and white gloves, with
flowers in her hair. Not at all like Shirley.
Their daughter was of stronger mold-and
he was glad of it, perhaps, but if ever there
was flower maiden on earth, his sweet Alice
had been one. If ever wife was faithful
tender, and lovely, the flower maiden had
been so to him. How happy, thrice happy
she had made him. His lot had been blessed
above that of common men. He smiled as he
thought of all this
The airs in the fine old composition were
Col Carstone's especial favorites, and they
were enchantingly sung. He listened like a
bird to catch each golden note, and smiled
with exquisite happiness, as the sweet, well
remembered strains f1oated to his ear.
1t was the opening of the season. The
audience was brilliant one. Hundreds Of
refined and cultured musical people had gath
cred to give warm greeting to their priced
singers. The ladies were in light, fower-like
dresses, fairly rivaling the loveliness of ma
ture's own blossoms likewise scattered there
in profusion The lights shone like stars. The
air was sweet with perfume and melody. The
scene was like fairy garden. Not one who
was there ever forgot it.
In one Of the pauses of the noble music
hush like the breath of night fell on the great
audience. They were stilled till almost
heart beat could be heard. ,
Into the midst of this exquisite silence, after
this strain of celestial melody, a blood
curdlng cry broke. A man was seen to fall
forward. It was Col. Carstone. Hehad been
stricken dead in one moment. aa' .l..H..
l. Examination revealed that he had received
fatal brain injury from the fall in the State
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